sentry
noun/ˈsɛn.tɹi/ · [ˈsɛn.tɹ̝̊ɪi̯] ~ [ˈsɛn.t̠ɹ̠̊˔ɪi̯]
Etymology From earlier sentrie, sentery, of uncertain origin. Perhaps an alteration of sentinel or sanctuary; or perhaps from Old French senteret (“a path”), diminutive of sentier, from Medieval Latin semitarius (“a path”).
1
A guard, particularly on duty at the entrance to a military base.
- Additional sentries are keeping watch for any signs of an ambush.2019, Maaza Mengiste, The Shadow King, Canongate Books (2020), page 213:
2
Sentry duty; time spent being a sentry.
4
A watchtower.
5
An animal like a marmot tasked with alerting the pack to danger.
- Synonyms
- kite
- Derived terms
- outsentry, sentried, sentry-box, sentry-go, sentry post, stand sentry
- Related terms
- sentinel